Over 6 in 10 choose career before work-life balance

SINGAPORE - More than 6 in 10 employees would rather forgo flexible working hours than have their career progression thwarted, a survey by recruitment firm Ambition has found.

The market trends report released by Ambition also stated that 36.7 per cent of respondents work in excess of 50 hours a week.

While more than half of the employers surveyed said they offered flexible hours, the study also found that employees are either not utilising the benefit due to pressures of having to work longer hours or are unaware that it is offered.

The survey also found that employees and employers held different views on what part of the job was most important to an employee.

While the two groups generally agreed that salary was of utmost importance, employers and employees viewed the importance of other factors differently.

While employers thought that bonus and work relations with the manager were the next two most important things for an employee, the survey showed that employees were actually more concerned about their career progression and the benefits of working for the company.

Up to 91.9 per cent felt that they would not be able to find new employment in the labour market.